GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Spending another $10 million per year repairing roads that enable people to motor around in private vehicles powered by non-renewable fuels might not seem an environmentally-friendly plan.

But when that infrastructure is couched in terms of the “vital streets” proposal slated for the May 6 city ballot, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council lends its endorsement. Adding tree canopy, stormwater management features and safe access for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will make Grand Rapids streets and the community itself more prepared for the effects of climate change, WMEAC’s policy director said Monday, March 10.

“It’s a way to build climate resiliency into streets decision-making,” Nicholas Occhipinti said. “This (tax proposal) is a climate-resilient opportunity. We’re going to get our people out for it.”

Occhipinti and colleague Aaron Ferguson gave a primer on the city’s new climate resiliency plan Monday at a joint luncheon of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and the U.S. Green Building Council’s West Michigan chapter. The featured speaker at The Cheney Place was Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell.

Here are a few comments made at the luncheon:

• “We’ve always had to deal with potholes. If we see more freeze-thaw cycles, we’re going to see our transportation infrastructure impacted even more than we see it (today).” –Ferguson

• “(Climate change) means heat waves, epochal rain events and the consequent flooding such as we had last year and such as I pray we don’t have again this year. And now I know about polar vortexes.” –Heartwell

• “These climate issues simply mesh with a lot of business issues that come up, and they tend to aggravate them. They’re real business issues and we have to deal with them on a regular basis. Our corporation probably owns more value along the Grand River than anybody but the city. Flooding is a big issue for us. We’re watching (the river level this spring) closely.” –Rick VanDellen, Amway Corp. sustainability program manager

• “Getting more people on public transportation is a societal good and it also has the impact of mitigating emissions. (Climate change) mitigation and (climate change) adaptation have to go hand in hand. I have come from timidly speaking the word ‘adaptation’ to boldly advocating adaptation planning on the global stage. Good adaptation strategies are indeed mitigation strategies.” –Heartwell

• “This is a ripe moment in which it’s possible still to change the course of history. The world holds its breath waiting to see if humankind will continue down the path of extinction or embrace a path of sustainability and pull us back from the brink.” –Heartwell